Life After SafeHouse
The Next Steps of the Journey
The journey beyond SafeHouse continues, and so does our commitment to support. Graduates of our transitional housing program are welcomed to engage in extended case management for an additional six months as they transition to permanent housing. They are also eligible to receive a rental subsidy to contribute a prorated amount toward their rent as they adjust to the costs of independent living. Throughout the year we host a series of events like barbecues, parties, and hangouts to maintain the sense of community and connection for our program alumni.
Many of our alumni remain part of our community and even join our staff, using their insights to enhance our programs for the next group of women to walk through the doors.
Quotes from SafeHouse Graduates
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“First and foremost, I’d like to give the utmost respect to San Francisco SafeHouse. I was fortunate enough to enter SafeHouse which was a life changing opportunity and experience. I owe my sister a thank you for getting me into Friendship house, and also my former Case Manager there for getting me into SafeHouse.”
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“I’ve learned so much from independence to confidence and security. I’ve learned to live on my own with the help from SafeHouse. The program helped me get a job and my own apartment. My Case Manager Carly is a gift from God “Doing God’s work!” Carly takes her job seriously, and definitely gets her job done. Thank you, Carly, for teaching me to just ask when I need help, and for truly meaning it. Thank you to Ms. Roz and Ms. Sharon, my go to when I need an open ear or some advice. Jazmyn and all her beautiful hairstyles look different every time I see her, she’s amazing with a great attitude.”
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“I appreciate SafeHouse. I feel like I’ve matured through the program, made me the adult I am today; a wholesome, independent, indigenous woman.”
My Road to Recovery
post by Reilly, SafeHouse graduate
"I’ll tell you, before I reached SafeHouse, my life was in shambles, and waking up in cockroach infested motel rooms was the daily norm. Then again I wouldn’t always wake up, because I never went to sleep in the first place. I was a user of methamphetamines and a prostitute. In the beginning, I thought prostitution was going to be a great jump start into the life of riches and success that I truly wanted.
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I thought it was going to be the beginning of the life that every person who grew up poor ever wished for. It wasn’t. Instead, I found out that everything you make in that life goes away just as easy as it shows up. It’s like a trap. The more you make, the more of yourself you lose. Eventually, I could barely remember my real name. Eventually I was lost. I had nothing, nowhere to go, and no one left to call on. I reached the point where I undoubtedly believed that there was no further options for me. I didn’t think I would ever get out of that life.
I was somehow able to put down the drugs, but I’m not sure I would have been able to stay clean any longer on my own as I was still involved heavily with prostitution. A series of what seemed like universally designed events brought me to SafeHouse. I don’t think I can even put into words how much of a miracle it was to be accepted into the residence.
It was amazing! The timing was perfect! I could not have been more desperate and lifeless then I was while I was being interviewed. They took me in that night. I was then given the opportunity to freely relearn how to be a functional member of the world again. SafeHouse taught me how to improve in every aspect of my life. I learned about things like meal planning, saving money, and proper ways to emotionally respond to different situations. It was not the easiest place to live, but changing habits is never easy. I feel so incredibly blessed to be one of the few women in the world that have gotten to be part of this program. It changed my life.
Today, I have an amazing little girl that always keeps my spirits up,
and I am a college student attending the local college where I live. I
have a life; better relationships, better habits, and I feel like a better person. I have found interest in exercise, healthy eating, meditation, photography, and spirituality. I have continued to carry out many of the skills learned through SafeHouse such as realistic career goals, keeping my home clean, cooking healthy meals, and making it on time to my appointments. I am more able to handle challenges, and I have developed a new love for life itself.